Assessing Functions of Pedotransference to Determine Microporosity for a Soil (Typic Hapludox) under Two Conditions of Use in the Orinoco Region Colombia

Abstract

Microporosity is a property that influences not only on fluid dynamics but also on the flow of chemical substances and plant growth. Likewise, it is known that microporosity is difficult to be determined due to the broad variety of methods that implies using of equipment and assemblage, that in certain cases might be onerous. On the other hand, functions of pedotransference is a fundamental tool to estimate indirectly and affordable the soil properties which have been complex and expensive to be measured, in function to others which are less complex and have a lower cost. Therefore, the purpose of this study was obtaining functions of pedotransference (FP) of continuous type, using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) to assess microporosity of a typic hapludox soil. This research was carried out in Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia using a data set of 12 physical and chemical properties of two locations submitted to different uses (a plot with agroforestry system and a plot with previous biennial crops under conventional management). Both plots in the study area were sampled in a matrix of 17 X 17 m resulting in 24 samples per area. ANOVA and the SNK tests indicated that the use and the soil management modify significantly properties such as moist retention capacity, clay content, phosphorous content and pH. Through the MLR method was obtained FP to stimulate microporosity with R² of 0,49 and 0,41 using field capacity and the electrical connectivity saturated as regressors variables. In addition, other functions that determine field capacity and microporosity in function of clay showed significance and the high power of prediction R² de 0,65. In conclusion, hydraulic parameters from assessed soils can be determined by functions of pedotransference with the MLR method, which proves the great potential of this tool as support for decision making in the field of soil sciences.